Tivadar Košut, a world-renowned naïve painter, was born in 1947 in Novi Bečej. He inherited his love for painting from his mother, who painted icons. Although his parents wanted him to become a carpenter or a ceramicist, art ultimately became his true calling.
He emerged in 1930 during the monarcho-fascist dictatorship of King Alexander Karađorđević and General Petar Živković. It was a time of the darkest reaction and the triumph of the Law on the Protection of the State. This was an era of strict illegality for the Communist Party, where its fighters, carrying the banner of revolution, were sentenced to long prison terms, dying under police beatings, or being shot while "attempting" to escape—a justification often used by the police for their crimes.
Irrigation is one of the most important functions of the primary canal network, as it enables the distribution of water from the Tisa River into the central parts of Banat. According to project plans, the primary canal network should supply water for the irrigation of approximately 300,000 hectares in Banat. The intake of Tisa water in this region is carried out by gravity.
Stevan Davidović was born on October 6, 1949, in Novi Bečej. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown, where he also graduated from the local Grammar School. He went on to earn a degree from the Higher Pedagogical School in Zrenjanin, majoring in Serbo-Croatian language and the history of Yugoslav literatures.
A master of watercolor and a guitar virtuoso, Branislav Stojančev—affectionately known to the people of Novi Bečej as Paša—was born in 1952. A lover of art, nature, and the Tisa River, he began his watercolor journey in 2001, dedicating himself to this delicate yet demanding painting technique. Since then, he has embraced its challenges with great success, finding in watercolor a source of peace, inspiration, and inner balance.
I do not consider myself an expert qualified to critically evaluate the literary work of Bogdan Čiplić. However, out of respect for him and from the memories of our friendship during the last ten years of his life, I will attempt to present—in the broadest terms—what I observed of his literary output.
Last night, at half past seven, a member of the Serbian National Theatre, Serbian actor and writer, the most outstanding theatrical character artist in the Slavic South—Laza Telečki—passed away at the age of 33. Tuberculosis, which has become a common ailment among the youth, and in his case, almost a family curse—having already claimed two of his brothers and a sister—has taken his life.
Vilmoš Kujan, born in Novi Bečej, moved to Novi Sad as a boy to learn a trade, where he stayed until 1942. During his time in Novi Sad, he played football, which made him one of the top players in Novi Bečej upon his return. In DMKS Turul, during the early war years, he quickly established himself as one of the team’s most important first-team players, alongside István Berta.
The social life in Novi Bečej and Vranjevo, fifty or more years ago, mainly took place in the Sokolana and taverns. Conferences, meetings, and gatherings of political or scientific nature were held there. In short, all entertainment and social activities happened indoors—either in the Sokolana or in taverns. The only exceptions were summer swimming in the Tisa River, football training, and matches in the Gradište grove.
The development of water management in Vojvodina, Banat, and our Novi Bečej region is presented in the following exposition as a report, or more precisely, a story about water and what people have created by living and working on and around water over the past 150 years.
The inhabitants of the Pannonian Plain have always been closely tied to water: the more water, the greater the troubles it brings. Relentlessly, they waged an exhausting battle against water, which brought both benefits and immense hardships. This eternal human desire to tame the destructive force of water is evident in the traces of ruined dikes and canals along rivers and streams, as well as in the settlements that sought refuge at higher altitudes.
Banat, a vast and fertile plain, but densely dotted with swamps and river branches, became a hub of migration for various peoples in the second half of the 18th century. The indigenous peoples, Serbs and Hungarians, were greatly reduced after the Austro-Turkish wars and the plague epidemics, and the vast areas were empty.
In 1995, Novi Bečej thrived despite economic challenges. The town, closely tied to the Tisa River, saw growth in education, culture, tourism, and community initiatives.
The renowned artist and painter Tibor Nađ was born in Novi Bečej on March 23, 1952. He completed his primary education in his hometown and later graduated from the Bogdan Šuput School of Design in Novi Sad, majoring in Interior and Furniture Design.
The only available testimony describing the living conditions in the Novi Bečej concentration camp comes from Tihomir Ungar from Novi Sad. At the time, he was a child imprisoned in the camp along with his entire family, who had been brought from Novi Kneževac to the temporary holding facility in Novi Bečej, where they awaited deportation.
After drainage, water supply has taken the most significant place. Future water consumption from the Basic Canal Network (OKM) and the spatial distribution of water demand have been considered. The characteristics of the OKM's water intake points on the Danube and Tisa Rivers have been studied, with attention to technical reliability and cost-effectiveness of water supply.
Between 1947 and 1957, research, geodetic surveys, studies, and conceptual designs were carried out.
From 1957 to 1977, main designs were developed and the basic canal network was constructed. The works were carried out under variable conditions, and the difficulties encountered caused delays and slowed down construction.
The medieval settlement of Arača is located on the southern shore of Crna Bara, a watercourse within the alluvial plain of the Tisza River, about 13 kilometers east of its riverbed. The name of this settlement, also referred to in sources as Potiska Arača, is associated with the ruins of a basilica and monastery.
Even in his youth, Bogdan Čiplić was reserved and somewhat detached from social life, although he was a good conversationalist, open as a person, and musically educated. Because of that, he could easily fit into any tavern company. But he lacked one crucial thing—a desire for such a lifestyle. Just like the expression jokingly says: "but"—what ruins a girl’s happiness. That "but" steered Bogdan Čiplić’s life.
It’s pleasant to recall the wonderful and unforgettable dances at the Sokolana, or at the “kolo”—as the dances held in taverns were called—at Uncle Arsen Pecarski's and Uncle Nova Trbić's place in Vranjevo. It was so beautiful that now, I feel as though in those youthful years, we lived for nothing else but that.
How honorable, courageous, humane, and brave Bogdan Čiplić was in crucial moments was illustrated by Ivan Ivanji in his speech at Bogdan’s funeral. Among other things, he recounted how, as a Jew, he managed to escape from Banat—where the Volksdeutsche were among the first to carry out genocide against Jews—and reach Novi Sad without any documents.
19–21 May 2004
Open Competition for Solo Singers
The biennial alternation between the solo singers’ competition and the invitational composers’ competition for solo songs found its rhythm, so the 12th edition of “Horizons on the Tisa” was marked by the fifth open competition for solo singers.
In the photographs that tell a story of the past, we see Boško Maksić, known as "Šeboj," once a symbol of hard work and prosperity. Born in Kuman, he was a wealthy farmer and a respected member of his community. However, after World War II, his life took a tragic turn. The forced expropriation of his property by the regime completely shattered his life and stability.
Pavle Janković - Šole, born on January 19, 1939, in Novi Bečej, was one of the most respected Serbian poets, whose poetry, although primarily intended for children, carried deep messages for adults as well. His name in literature is associated with an authentic and gentle approach to childhood, making him an expert in understanding children's thoughts and dreams.
Drainage enables the reception of all excess water from the catchment area—either by gravity (free fall) or artificially using pumps—and evacuates it further into the main receivers: the Tisa and the Danube rivers.
It is difficult to say how long the rivalry between Zvezda and Banat might have lasted had Banat not been reinforced as early as mid-1936 by former players of Jedinstvo, who were significantly older and physically stronger. Under such circumstances, Zvezda, with its predominantly youthful team, was no longer able to compete on equal terms. The first match played between the two clubs after these changes took place on April 9, 1936, and ended with a 4–2 victory for Banat.
Ljubiša Jocić was a poet, writer, painter, director, and an experimenter with form and meaning—but above all, a man of play and artistic exploration. His creative journey spanned half a century, leaving behind a rich body of work that includes poems, novels, anti-novels, plays, films, and paintings.
Although I lived with my parents on a farm near Novi Bečej, on the road to Kumane, all my close friends during those childhood years were from Vranjevo. Thanks to their stories, I fell in love with certain parts, or rather places, of the Vranjevo field more than with those of Novi Bečej, and I was eager to get to know them better.
The Košut family lived in a modest house covered with reeds, with small, misty windows through which young Tivadar observed and created his own world. Sitting by the oil lamp, he listened to the stories of old women about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, the flood, Christ and his miracles, dreaming how happy he would be if he could paint it all.
The Party-Syndical Congress for Vojvodina, held in Novi Sad on January 7 and 8, 1920, was attended by Ljubomir Čolić, a delegate from Kumane, who was elected as a member of the Control Board of the Executive Board of the Provincial Assembly for Vojvodina.
